Means for utilizing the current force of running water



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1..

0. M. GARRISON.

MEANS FOR UTILIZING THE CURRENT FORGE 0F RUNNING WATER; NZ. 385,261. giatented JuneiZ6I-1v'898S.

Z a k w I ll i J 7v G 7,,

I illIlilfllll O I WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

XMQU BY I ATTORNEY.

N. PETERS PholvLnhour-zpher, Washinglcll. D13.

(No Model.) 8 3 Sheets-'Sheet 2. O. M. GARRISON.

MEANS FOR UTILIZING THE CURRENT FORGE 0P RUNNING WATER. N0. 385,28L Patented June 26, 1888.

I v 4 1 WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

ATTORNEY.

NITED STATES CHARLES M. GARRISON,

PATENT FFICE.

OF WIGHITA, KANSAS.

MEANS FOR UTILIZING THE CURRENT FORCE F RUNNING WATER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 385,261, dated June 26, 1888 Application filed May 8, 1888.

. machinery.

' sel provided with an undershot power-wheel.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a running stream, water-fall, floating vessel, pier, power-house on land, and connections for the transmission of power from the floating vessel to the power-house. Fig. 6 is aside elevation of the mechanism on the pier. Fig. 7 isa plan or top view of the pier and mechanism upon it.

The floating vessel A maybe constructed-of any suitable size or material, and must have strength sufficient to withstand the current or the floating ice if the situation is one where the float will be exposed to ice. The float is ob long or pointed at both ends. A pier, B, of stone oriron, is built up the stream above the swift current. The float has position in the swift current downstream from the pier. A

suitable Wire cable, 0, has one end, d, securely attached to the float A, and is supported on a horse, E, mounted on and secured to the pier, and the other end, f, of the cable extends upstream and is suitably anchored. The stability of the cable, the pier, and the anchorage is very important, as the power to be utilized and transmitted is dependent on these parts. The float is provided with one or more power wheels or screws, which are acted on and set in motion by the current of running water.

The drawings illustrate plans both for wheels and screws, and the latter will be described first. The power-screw G (shown in Figs. 1 and 2) is mounted in bearings h, attached to the float. The shaft z of the screw projects forward on the float, and is attached by a coupling, j, to a flexible shaft, 70, which ex- Serial No. 273,202. No model.)

tends to the pier B. The shaft is supported by hangers Z, which are suspended at intervals from the wire cable 0. Thus the cable first mentioned, is attached by a coupling, j,

to the flexible shaft 70, which leads to the pier B. In this case, as in that of the screw first described, there is the same arrangement of cable 0 and hangers Z.

It will be understood that either a screw or a wheel may be used to take up the power of the water-current, or both screw and wheel may be employed.

The pier B has the horse or truss E, before named, on which the cable 0 is supported. The construction of this horse is such that suitable gearing maybe placed below the cable and on top of the pier for changing the direction of the power-transmitting flexible shaft 7c, in order to carryit to a powerhouse, Q, on the shore.

The gearing referred to may be of any suit able kind, and in the present instance comprises a shaft, 7', in bearing 8, a bevel-wheel, s, on the said shaft, 2. second shaft, t, in bearings u, and provided with a bevelwheel, t. The two bevel-wheels are engaged or mesh together. The flexible shaft is from the float is connected by a coupling, j, with the said first shaft, 0, and a second flexible shaft, is, is connected by a coupling, with the said second shaft, 25, and leads from the pier B to the powerhouse Q. A suitable bearing, 1;, for this second flexible shaft is shown on apier, 10, at the shore edge.

It will be readily understood that the second flexible shaft, whose end enters the powerhouse, may be connected to any kind of machinery in the power-house.

By this construction and arrangement the floatA may be moved sidewise in the stream while held securely from the pier and anchorage. The float may be placed in that position IOO est. I As many floats and power-shafts may be on the floating vessel which may be set in moused as desired, or as the size of the stream will tion by the current of running water, a flexipermit. These devices may be used for utilble shaft by which the movement of the screw izing the power of the current of Niagara river or wheelis transmitted, and hangers suspended I 5 5 just above the falls, or any other natural falls I from the cable to support the flexible shaft.

where the float can be anchored. In testimony whereof I affix my signature in Having described my invention, I claim the presence of two witnesses. As a means for utilizing the power of mu CHARLES M. GARRISON. ning water, the combination of a floating ves- I WVitnesses:

1o sel, a pier and anchorage, a cable connecting the floating vessel and pier, a screw or wheel 0. L. ADAMS, J NO. L. G. OARNEY. 

